Siphonic and compressed-air system for conveying liquids



(No Model.)

J.K'.LEEDY. SIPHONIO AND GOMPRESSED AIR SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING LIQUIDS;No. 413.194. Patte'd- 0013.22, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN K. LEEDY, OF TOMS BROOK, VIRGINIA.

SIPHONIC AND COMPRESSED-AIR SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING LIQUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,194, dated October22, 1889. Application filed January 30, 1389. Serial No. 298,049. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN KISER Lnnnv, a citizen of the United States,residing at Toms Brook, in the county of Shenandoah and State ofVirginia, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Siphonicand Oompressed-Air Systems of Conveying Liquids, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to an improved siphonic and compressed-air systemfor conveying liquids; and it has for its objects to convey a liquidfrom any suitable point or source to various points of distribution, asmore fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out intheclaims.

The above-mentioned objects I attain by the means illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which" Figure 1 represents a verticalsectional view showing my invention as applied in practice. Fig. 2represents a vertical sectional view showing one of a system of storagevessels or tanks forming part of my invention 5 and Fig. 3 represents adetached sectional view of a valve and protective chamber, through whichthe fluid is supplied to the storage tanks or vessels, as more fullyhereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates the source of supply,which may consist of a tank, reservoir, or running stream, located,preferably, at an elevation above the .level of the final point ofdistribution, the

said level being indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings by the dotted line05 00. From the said source of supply extends a pipe or conveyer B,through which the liquid may be passed to the various points ofdelivery.

The letters O O O C indicate a series of storage tanks, vessels, orreservoirs, forming part of my improved system. The said tanks orreservoirs are located at any convenient points in the line ofdistribution of the liquid and are connected with the distributingpipes,as more fully hereinafter explained. The said tanks are partlyconstructed of masonry and partly of metal or other suitable material,as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, in which the letter 00indicates a cylindrical or other shaped vessel of metal or othersuitable material, and b a cylindrical the purpose hereinafterexplained.

or other shaped structure constructed of matherein in such position asto leave an intervening space, which is filled with a plastic cement c,of such nature t-hat'it can be run into the space while in a fluidcondition, and which will afterward harden and solidify, so as to form acompact wall for the support of the vessel a and strengthen it, againstinternal pressure, and render it perfectly air and water tight.

The vessel a in each case is provided with a central opening or man-holeat the top, on which is fitted a removable cover d, by means of whichaccess may be had to the interior for the purpose of cleaning orrepairs. The mouth or opening of each of the structures 1) is providedwith a removable cover 6, by means of which access may be had to theinterior thereof.

The letter D indicates a tank, reservoir, or compressed-air supply,from. which extends a pipe E, which follows the general line or route ofthe liquid-distributing pipe. The first storage tank or reservoirO ofthe system is connected with the said air-pipe E by means of a branchpipe 9, which is provided with a stop-cock h, by means of whichcompressed air may be supplied to said tank. The second tank O in thesystem is connected with the liquid-distributing pipe B by means of abranch pipe 1, which is provided with a stopfcock 7e and extends downinto the inner vessel thereof, to near the bottom of the same, where itis bent substantially at right angles and turned upwardly, terminatingin a perforated globe or vessel on, in which is located anauto1natically-acting check-valve n, for The said pipe 1' is alsoprovided with a short branch pipe r, which has a valve r controlled by avalve-rod a), adapted to be operated from above, to permit the water tobe passed from the inner vessel of the tank 0 into the pipe 2', and fromthence to the pipe B, to start the siphonic action therein, as morefully hereinafter set forth. 7

From the inner vessel of the tank 0 extends a pipe S to a suitable pointabove ground, through which the fluid from said tank may be dischargedfor use when required, the said pipe being provided with a cook or valveto, for starting or stopping the flow of water therefrom.

The tanks 0 G with their connections, are dupl cations, respectively, ofthe tanks (3 C, and are arranged in the line or route of the system ofdistribution. From the tank 0 the distributing-pipe B passes above thelevel line 00 00, over the elevations due to the natural formation ofthe country on the line of the system, and terminates in a finalreservoir G below the level 00 as, in such manner that the liquid in itsfinal discharge from the pipe B will collect in said reservoir G andseal the terminal end of the pipe B against the admission of air intothe same.

To put my improved system in operation, the liquid is first allowed toflow from the source A through the pipes B and branch pipe i into theinner vessel of the tank 0, the valves B, B", and It being left open,the liquid entering the tank 0' by its own gravity, liftin the automaticcheck-valven in its course. \Vhile the filling operation is taking placethe confined air in the said tank passes off through the pipe t andvalve a in the branch leading therefrom, the valve being opened for thepurpose. hen the tank 0 has been filled, the valve n is closed and thevalve 10 opened, permitting the compressed air from the compressor D toenter the tank 0 through the pipe 25, creating any desired degree ofpressure therein. The pressure automatically closes the check-valve n,and the fluid, having no open outlet, is held in said tank 0'. \Vhile inthis condition under pressure the liquid maybe drawn off for use abovethe tank 0 by opening the valve a. To start the siphonic action in theelevated portion of the main pipe B, the valve 1 is opened by means ofthe valve-rod o, the valves B B" being closed and the valves B and itopened. The pressure in the tank G forces the liquid forward into theelevated portions of the pipe B, passing the valves B B' and the valve79 of the pipe t', leading to 'the tank 0 filling the said tank and thereservoir G, the air in said tank being allowed to pass off through thepipe t, leading therefrom, and the valve a \Vhen the tank 0 is filled,the valve a is closed, the valve 10 is opened, and compressed air isadmitted to the tank The liquid may be then withdrawn from said tankthrough the pipe S by opening the valve 10 thereof. Should the waterinthe reservoir G become exhausted by any means, it may be readilysupplied from the tank C closing the valve B and opening the valves 71)and 0*, when the pressure in the said tank 0 will effect the purpose.

The tanks 0 and 0 provide for the storage of compressed air atconvenient points along the route of the system, the air being passedinto said tanks through the pipes g, leading from the pipe E, extendingfrom the 001m pressor, by opening the cocks h. WVhen suf-- ficientlycompressed, the air may be retained in said tanks 0 and C by closing thecooks h, and supplied for use to the tanks 0 and 0, when required, byopening the said valves h again. When it is required to clean theair-tanks or to enter the same for repairs or other purposes, thecompressed air therein may be allowed to escape through the pipes h byopening the valves 7Z2 thereof, and the covers of the man-holes of thevessels a and the structures I) removed.

It is evident that any number of air and liquid storage tanks maybeemployed in connection with my improved system of distribution, so longas the relative positions of the supply and delivery points aremaintained, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

My improved system of distribution may be employed for various purposes,such as supplying water along a line of railroad, in cities and townsfor furnishing water under pressure for extinguishing fires, and in allother instances where it is desired to have a fiow of water or otherliquid under pressure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination of a liquid-supply, a liquid-conveying pipe connectedto this liquid-supply, buried liquid-storage tanks connected to the saidconveyer by means of valved pipes, valved supply pipes leading fromthese buried storage-tanks to the sur face of the ground, and adischarge-tank G, located below the level of the said liquid-supply, thedischarge end of the conveyer being submerged in this tank, as and forthe purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of a liquid supply, buried liquid-storage tanksconnected to the said liquid-supply by means of valved pipes, valveddischarge pipes leading from the buried liquidianks,compressed-air-storage tanks buried beneath the surface of the ground,and a main compressed-air conveyer connected to these tanks andtheliquid-tanks by means of valved pipes, substantially as and for thepurpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN K. LEEDY.

\Vitnesses:

G. D. DAvrs, JNo. S. FINCH, Jr.

IIO

